Is cleansing oil the same as oil?

Hi Little Wonderlanders,

Double cleansing is probably one of the most defining and important steps of any Korean skincare routine. It involves cleansing your skin in two steps: first with an oil-based cleaner, followed by a water-based cleanser. Oil cleansers ensure that you remove oil-based impurities including sunscreen, makeup and excess sebum to help prevent clogged pores and acne. Water cleansers can’t do this, because water and oil don’t mix. What they can do is take care of water-based impurities like sweat and dirt, which is essential in keeping skin clear. 

This blog will be about the difference between the two forms of oil cleansers: liquid cleansing oils and cleansing balms, and which one is better for your skin.

What are cleansing oils and cleansing balms?

Simply put, cleansing oils and balms are oil-based cleansers that attract dirt and makeup like a magnet. The main difference between the two is the texture and the packaging. Oils are liquids and tend to be a little heavier while balms are solids with a butter-like consistency and are generally more lightweight. Cleansing balms come in tubs, while cleansing oils are generally sold in pump-style bottles.

Both cleansing oils and balms should be applied directly to dry skin (even with makeup on), massaged for a few minutes, and then rinsed away with warm water. It washes off very easily because the products are formulated so that they turn into a thin and milky texture. It’s possible to use them interchangeably, but if your skin is on the oily side you may prefer a balm formulation more. 

You may need to try both balms and oils to decide what works best for you skin and lifestyle, as everyone is different. I’ll summarize a couple pros and cons of both to help you decide what might work better for you.

Cleansing balm

If you wear a lot of makeup, especially eye makeup, you might prefer a cleansing balm, as it tends to be better at removing makeup. 

You also might prefer a cleansing balm if you travel a lot as tubs are way easier to pack up and take place without risking it spilling in your bag (or being confiscated at the airport). Liquid oily textures and pump bottles tend to be messier. 

A lot of people really like how relaxing and therapeutic it feels to massage the cleansing balm into their skin. Oils feel more slippery and with a thin consistency you feel like you have to try to rub it into your skin quicker before it runs down your face or hands. 

Balms appear more expensive, but balms tend to be a little more affordable than oils. Balms last much longer than oils as you don’t need to use as much. 

Some people like cleansing oils better because they don’t make your vision blurry. Cleansing balms tend to cause the vision to be blurry for a few minutes, which can be inconvenient when you’re trying to rush your skincare routine. Cleansing oils are also perfect for cleaning makeup brushes too. As mentioned above, cleansing oils are typically packaged in pump bottles. It is more hygienic to use cleansing oils, because you don’t have to stick your fingers in the formula (the chances of that tiny spatula going missing are high, let’s be real). 

Just to be clear... An oil cleanser definitely won’t make your skin oilier, unless you’re over cleansing. The reason is that the oils in your oil cleanser help to pull oil-based impurities from your pores. 

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Which oil cleanser would you prefer or like to try? Leave a comment and share your experiences!

-xx-

With the recent boom of oil-based products, you might be wondering if you can rely on one to multitask at everything from cleansing to conditioning. Let's take a look.

Oil cleansing is a new cult trend that's skyrocketed in status over the last few years. Made mainstream by the Korean double cleanse method, oil cleansing offers a lot of benefits for the skin.

But just how does oil cleansing work? And with all the oil-based products on the market, can you use any one for an effective oil cleanse?

How does oil cleansing work?

The oil cleansing method (OCM) works on the scientific principle that like dissolves like. That means oil dissolves oil-based ingredients and water dissolves water-based ingredients. You can dissolve every kind of impurity or product with the double cleanse method, so you get cleaner skin without dryness.

The double cleanse method consists of using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleaner. For example:

1. L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil followed by
2. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream

Both products are extremely mild yet very effective, so skin is deeply cleansed whilst also being respected.

Some people who swear by the oil cleansing method use the oil cleanse alone, and this is still very effective for two reasons;

• If you use water to pre-wet your face or rinse off an oil cleanser, you're still using both oil and water.
• Most long-lasting and waterproof makeup is oil-based and so perfectly removed with the OCM.

Are oil cleansers the same as facial oils?

And now to address the original question: can you use a facial oil for the OCM? To answer this, you need to look at the differences between cleansing oils and regular facial oils.

• Facial oils are made either predominantly or solely from natural oils.
• Cleansing oils are predominantly made from natural oils, with the addition of ingredients that help them to emulsify, or mix with water, and rinse off.

It's true that you can use both oils effectively for the OCM. However, there's a couple of reasons you may want to stick to specially formulated cleansing oils:

1. Facial oils contain precious ingredients that end up being washed away.
2. Cleansing oils rinse off better. This may be especially appealing if you're new to the OCM.

What makes cleansing oils better for the OCM?

When the OCM first become widely known, it was a DIY method for home use, usually calling for a blend of olive oil and castor oil. Once this trend was here to stay, showing benefits and providing enjoyment for the people who tried it, the basic commercial cleansing formulas evolved.

This new breed of cleansing oils contains the aforementioned emulsifiers. Remember that oil and water do not mix naturally. What you'll find when using one of these products is that it goes on as oil. When mixed with water during wash-off, the product turns into a milky lotion that easily leaves skin.

Some of our favourites include:

• Clarins Total Cleansing Oil
• L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil
• Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil

These cleansing oils are not only nourishing, but also elegant to use.

Head to our cleansing oil shop to view our carefully vetted range, and if you need any help choosing a product that's best designed for your skin type, drop us an email on or give us a call on 03 9486 7179.

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